Serial drama producer Paul Rauch dies in NY at 78

NEW YORK (AP) - Paul Rauch, a longtime executive in the daytime drama world who produced "Another World," "One Life to Live" and "Santa Barbara," has died at age 78.

He died Monday in New York of complications from blood clots, his wife, playwright Israela Margalit, said Tuesday.

Rauch, described in TV Guide Canada as "the most prolific and talented executive producer in soap opera history," won two Daytime Emmys, the first in 1976 for his production of "Another World." In 2000, he won for executive-producing a children's film, "Run the Wild Fields."

He wanted to be an actor but settled into work crafting shows behind the scenes instead. He had a brief stint as vice president of daytime programs for CBS in the 1970s and produced the theatrical film "Lovers Knot," starring Tim Curry and Jennifer Grey, in 1995.

His skill in serial drama also brought him success in overseas markets, producing the Russian prime-time series "Poory Nastya" and "Pushkin." He developed the drama series "Ocean Front" and "Rendezvous" in Poland.

Rauch's last television job took him to the top of the ratings, with longtime leader "The Young and the Restless," for which he was co-executive producer from 2008 until falling ill last year.

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